"He shall learn the Scots for 'ecorcheurs' (flayers of men) "when we have filled our pouches." With that he crammed a great napkin in my mouth, so that I could not cry, made it fast with a piece of cord, trussed me with the rope which he had bidden me tie across the path to trip the horses, and with a kick sent me flying to the bottom of the ditch, my face being turned from the road.
I could hear Giles and Aymeric steal across the way, and the rustling of boughs as they settled on the opposite side.

I could hear the trampling hoofs of horses coming slowly and wearily from the east.

At this moment chanced a thing that has ever seemed strange to me: I felt the hand of the violer woman laid lightly and kindly on my hair.

I had ever pitied her, and, as I might, had been kind to her and her bairn; and now, as it appears, she pitied me.

But there could be no help in her, nor did she dare to raise her voice and give an alarm.